Netherlands Journal of Geosciences — Geologie en Mijnbouw |96 – 4 | 331–351 | 2017 doi:10.1017/njg.2017.31 Structural and microstructural analysis of K–Mg salt layers in the Zechstein 3 of the Veendam Pillow, NE Netherlands: development of a tectonic mélange during salt flow Alexander F. Raith1,∗, Janos L. Urai1 & Jacob Visser2 1 Institute for Structural Geology, Tectonics and Geomechanics, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany 2 Nedmag Industries Mining & Manufacturing B.V., Veendam, the Netherlands ∗ Corresponding author. Email: [email protected] Manuscript received: 11 November 2016, accepted: 21 September 2017 Abstract In fully developed evaporite cycles, effective viscosity contrasts of up to five orders of magnitude are possible between different layers, but the structures and mechanics in evaporites with such extreme mechanical stratification are not well understood. The Zechstein 3 unit in the Veendam salt pillow in the Netherlands contains anhydrite, halite, carnallite and bischofite, showing this extreme mechanical stratification. The Veendam Pillow has a complex multiphase salt tectonic history as shown by seismic reflection data: salt withdrawal followed by convergent flow into thesalt pillow produced ruptures and folds in the underlying Z3-anhydrite–carbonate stringer and deformed the soft Z3-1b layer We analysed a unique carnallite- and bischofite-rich drill core from the soft Z3-1b layer by macroscale photography, bulk chemical methods, X-ray diffraction and optical microscopy. Results show high strain in the weaker bischofite- and carnallite-rich layers, with associated dynamic recrystallisation at very low differential stress, completely overprinting the original texture. Stronger layers formed by alternating beds of halite and carnallite show complex recumbent folding on different scales commonly interrupted by sub-horizontal shear zones with brittle deformation, veins and boudinage. We attribute this tectonic fragmentation to be associated with a softening of the complete Z3-1b subunit during its deformation. The result is a tectonic mélange with cm- to 10 m-size blocks with frequent folds and boudinage. We infer that these structures and processes are common in deformed, rheologically strongly stratified evaporites. Keywords: bischofite, K–Mg salt, salt deformation, salt tectonics, squeezing salts, Z3 salt Introduction than halite (Van Eekelen et al., 1981; Spiers et al., 1983;Urai, 1983, 1985;Urai&Boland,1985; Langbein, 1987;Uraietal., Metre-thick layers of potassium–magnesium (K–Mg) salts are 1987, 2008; Scott Duncan & Lajtai, 1993; Schenk & Urai, 2005; common in salt giants like the European Zechstein or the Cre- Muhammad, 2015). Together with the much stronger carbonates taceous of offshore Brazil (Cerqueira et al., 1997; Geluk et al., and sulphates that are precipitated in the same evaporation cy- 2000, 2007;Warren,2006). Consisting of carnallite or sylvite, cle, a highly stratified mechanical layering can develop inside these layers are locally exploited by potash mining. They are also salt bodies (Richter-Bernburg, 1987; Geluk, 1998, 2000;War- known to generate problems while drilling subsalt wells, caused ren, 2006; Bérest et al., 2012). During deformation, evaporites by their high solubilities and very low viscosities (Williamson form complex structures including folds, faults, veins and brec- et al., 1998). Occasionally, even less viscous layers of tachyhy- cias that are often visible in mine galleries and drill cores (Mar- drite or bischofite are included in this sequence (Coelewij et al., tini, 1953;Roth,1968; Siemeister, 1969; Coelewij et al., 1978; 1978; Vysotskiy & Kislik, 1987; Poiate et al., 2006; Geluk et al., Talbot et al., 1982; Richter-Bernburg, 1987; Jackson & Talbot, 2007). 1989; Bornemann & Fischbeck, 1991; Burliga, 1996;Zirngast, The K–Mg salts carnallite and bischofite deform in the lab- 1996; Behlau & Mingerzahn, 2001; et al.Bornemann et al., 2008; oratory with viscosities up to three orders of magnitude lower Schléder et al., 2008; Hammer et al., 2014). However, there are C Netherlands Journal of Geosciences Foundation 2018 331 Downloaded from https://www.cambridge.org/core. IP address: 170.106.40.40, on 27 Sep 2021 at 20:03:52, subject to the Cambridge Core terms of use, available at https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms. https://doi.org/10.1017/njg.2017.31 Netherlands Journal of Geosciences — Geologie en Mijnbouw no mine galleries and very few drill cores in evaporites rich section in the Veendam Pillow contains Z-I to Z-IV overlain by in bischofite, due to mechanical and chemical instability. Al- Lower Triassic (Buntsandstein and upper Röt), Cretaceous (Rijn- though mine and core observations give excellent insights into land and Chalk), Tertiary units (Lower/Middle and Upper North the structures and deformation processes present, the full inter- Sea Group) and the Quaternary (Raith et al., 2016)withanim- nal structure of the salt bodies can only be extrapolated from portant erosional unconformity between the Triassic and the these limited data. base of the Cretaceous. While the external morphology of salt bodies is relatively well The focus of this study is on the Z3 unit, which contains the understood and can be imaged using 3D reflection seismic data, Zechstein 3 anhydrite–carbonate (Z3-AC) layer (also called Z3 AC internal structures in 3D have only recently begun to be stud- stringer or floater since it is a distinct reflector in the typically ied, using internal reflectors with high acoustic impedance con- seismically transparent rock salt) at the base, overlain by four trasts (anhydrite + carbonate stringers) (Van Gent et al., 2011; Z3 subunits (Fig.1b). The Z3 subunits typically consist of halite Cartwright et al., 2012; Fiduk & Rowan, 2012; Jackson et al., (>95%) in the lower part (Z3-1a,2a,3a) followed by a K–Mg salt 2014, 2015; Strozyk et al., 2014). A recent study (Raith et al., part (Z3-1b,2b,3b) (Geluk et al., 2007). The Z3-4 contains no 2016) using high-resolution 3D seismic data, described the K–Mg salt. While the K–Mg salts in the Z3-2b and -3b were in- large-scale structure of the K–Mg salt-rich Zechstein 3, inside terpreted as intimate mixing of carnallite and halite crystals as the Veendam salt pillow in the north European Zechstein basin. the result of co-precipitation (Coelewij et al., 1978), the much Nevertheless, the spatial resolution of 3D reflection seismic is thicker Z3-1b consists of numerous thin layers dominated by one limited and structures smaller than 25–30 m cannot be imaged. mineral type and metre-thick layers of bischofite. The massive In this project, we analysed 81 m of core drilled through the occurrence of bischofite was interpreted as being the result of K–Mg salt-rich Zechstein III-1b subunit in the Veendam Pillow. accumulation of bittern brines in a local depression formed by This combination of 3D seismic and a drill core provides a unique an active graben in the subsalt Rotliegend (Raith et al., 2016). opportunity to study the deformation of a salt body with ex- Corresponding to the regional development, salt flow in the treme rheological layering at km to 0.1 mm scales, over six orders Veendam Pillow can be divided into three main phases (Raith of magnitude. The core was analysed with the aid of chemical et al., 2016): (1) early extensional salt flow during the Trias- analyses, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and optical microscopy. sic and Jurassic leading to the break-up of the 3Z3-AC stringer, The following two questions are addressed: (1) how is strain (2) a tectonically quiet phase that lasted until the early Late partitioned in a salt body with extreme rheological layering? Cretaceous, and (3) onset of the basin inversion during the late and (2) does strain partitioning result in strongly deformed but Cretaceous that led to overburden buckling and downbuilding continuous layers or do pinches or fractures disrupt the original of sediments around the Veendam Pillow forming the structure layering to produce a tectonic mélange? present today. The salt flow was convergent towards the pillow Our results can help us to better understand the impact of centre, causing folding and thrusting of the competent Z3-AC thin soft layers on the behaviour of a deforming salt body and stringer. This folding had a dominant influence on the overlying to improve prediction of the geometries of ore bodies made up soft K–Mg salts, which were concentrated into areas above the of K–Mg salts. The results of this study may help us to improve stringer synclines (Raith et al., 2016). This deformation history the understanding of well-bore stability in K–Mg salts and to suggests intense lateral salt flow in the Z3-1b with high strain, predict the long-term evolution of abandoned solution-mining complex folding and boudinage, although in the core photos of caverns and nuclear waste repositories. Coelewij et al. (1978) this is not readily visible. Study area Data and methods The Tripscompagnie 9 (Tr-9) core was drilled in the SE flank of The Tr9 well was cored over 81 m in December 2012 starting at a the Veendam salt pillow 10 km southeast of the city of Gronin- 1781.25 m true vertical depth (TVD) (drillers depth of 2420 m). gen in the NE Netherlands (Fig. 1a). The Veendam Pillow is The drilling itself and the first processing of the cores was part of located at the southernmost edge of the Groningen High in the magnesium-salt exploration of Nedmag B.V. and not part of the Lower Permian Basin. The Southern Permian Basin has un- this research project focusing on the internal deformation of soft dergone four tectonic phases with extension, compression and K–Mg salts. The core was described on site (ECOSPLAN), and one- halokinesis (Ziegler, 1978; Mohr et al., 2005;DeJager,2007; quarter of the core (parallel to core axis) was cut out for chem- Geluk et al., 2007).